Disk drive

ABSTRACT

A disk device in which a precut portion of sub cam plate and a protruding portion of locking plate are made in a slanted shape and at the same time the sub cam plate is rotated by a pressure when the protruding portion is inserted into the precut portion.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to a disk device by which two kindof disk operating modes can be realized by means that a lever performstwo kind of operations.

BACKGROUND ART

[0002] There has been a disk device which controls operation of a leverof two overlaid type cam in order to make enable to selectively realizea disk changing mode in which an arbitrary disk is selected from aplurality of disks and exchanged, and a disk playing mode in which anarbitrary disk is inserted into a slot and reproduced.

[0003] In the disk device in the prior art technology, a disk memberwhich has a U shaped precut portion, and a locking lever which engageswith a cam groove formed on the disk member to operate, are providedwith a slidable locking plate which engages with precut portion of thedisk member to regulate a rotating movement.

[0004] Hereinafter operation of the disk device will be explained.

[0005] When the locking plate is slid to engage with the precut portionof disk member in a state the precut portion of disk member stops aposition where it engages with the locking plate, rotating movement ofthe disk member is regulated. On the other hand the locking lever isreleased from an engagement by the slid locking plate, and moves along acam groove on the disk member.

[0006] Because disk device in the prior art technology is constituted asdescribed above, the locking plate can be slid and engaged with precutportion of the disk member when the disk member stops accurately at apredetermined rotated position, however, there has been a problem thatthe locking plate cannot be inserted into the precut portion of diskmember in a case when a stopping position of the disk member is shiftedeven in a little bit from the predetermined position.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above describedproblem and it is an object of the invention to provide a disk device inwhich a protruding portion at a tip of the locking plate can be insertedinto the precut portion to release an engaging state of the lockinglever even when the stopping position of a sub cam plate is shifted froma predetermined rotated position.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0008] A disk device in accordance with the present invention ischaracterized by that a precut portion of the sub cam plate and aprotruding portion of the locking plate are made in a slanted shape andat the same time the sub cam plate is rotated by a pressure when theprotruding portion is inserted into the precut portion.

[0009] By this arrangement an effect is produced that the protrudingportion at a tip of the locking plate can be inserted into the precutportion to release an engaging state of the locking lever even when astopping position of the sub cam plate is shifted from a predeterminedrotated position as far as it is located within an area where the tipportion of protruding portion of the locking plate can abut onto aslanted edge of the precut portion of sub cam plate.

[0010] The disk device in accordance with the present invention ischaracterized by that a stopping position of the sub cam plate is setsuch that a tip portion of the protruding portion is located at acentral area of cut portion of the precut portion.

[0011] By this arrangement an effect is produced that the area where theprotruding portion can be inserted into the precut portion, can beexpanded.

[0012] The disk device in accordance with the present invention ischaracterized by that precut portion of the sub cam plate is made bycutting in a triangle shape, and the tip portion of protruding portionof the locking plate is made in a shape of acute angle.

[0013] By this arrangement an effect is produced that the area where theprotruding portion can be inserted into the precut portion, can beexpanded without including complicated constitution.

[0014] The disk device in accordance with the present invention ischaracterized by that a urging member which urges a rotating movement ofthe sub cam plate in a direction that is opposite to a pressure when theprotruding portion is inserted into the precut portion.

[0015] By this arrangement an effect is produced that a protrudingportion at a tip of the locking plate can be inserted into the precutportion to release the engaging state of locking lever even when astopping position of the sub cam plate is shifted from a predeterminedrotated position as far as it is located within an area where the tipportion of protruding portion of the locking plate can abut onto aslanted edge of the precut portion of sub cam plate.

[0016] The disk device in accordance with the present invention ischaracterized by that the urging member is constituted by a spring, andone end of the spring is firmly fixed onto the main cam plate andanother end of the spring is firmly fixed onto the locking plate.

[0017] By this arrangement an effect is produced that the area where theprotruding portion can be inserted into the precut portion, can beexpanded without including complicated constitution.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018]FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show a relevant part of diskdevice according to embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0019]FIG. 2 is a perspective view to show a two overlaid type disk camportion.

[0020]FIG. 3 is an exploded view to show the two overlaid type disk camportion.

[0021]FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram to show a state that a sub camplate is locked.

[0022]FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram to show a state that the sub camplate is released from a locked state.

[0023]FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram to show a state that a straightedge of protruding portion of the locking plate and a precut portion ofthe sub cam plate are aligned along a line.

[0024]FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram to show the state depicted inFIG. 6 when viewed from a back side.

[0025]FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram to show a state that the lockingplate is slid and engaged with the sub cam plate from the state depictedin FIG. 6.

[0026]FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram to show the state depicted inFIG. 8 when viewed from the back side.

[0027]FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram to show a state that a slantededge of protruding portion of the locking plate and the precut portionof sub cam plate are aligned along a line.

[0028]FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram to show the state depicted inFIG. 10 when viewed from the back side.

[0029]FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram to show a state that the lockingplate is slid and engaged with the sub cam plate from the state depictedin FIG. 9.

[0030]FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram to show the state depicted inFIG. 12 when viewed from the back side.

[0031]FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram to show one example of settingfor stopping position of a main cam plate.

[0032]FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram to show a state that the maincam plate rotates within a concentric portion of cam groove after thelocking plate engages with the sub cam plate.

[0033]FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram to show a state that the maincam plate rotates to the same position which is depicted in FIG. 15 whenthe locking plate has not engaged with the sub cam plate.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0034] For explaining the present invention in more detail, a best modefor carrying out the invention will be described hereinafter withreference to the accompanied drawings.

[0035] Embodiment 1

[0036]FIG. 1 is a perspective view to show an relevant part of diskdevice according to embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is aperspective view to show a two overlaid type disk cam portion and FIG. 3is an exploded view to show the two overlaid type disk cam portion.

[0037] In the drawings a reference numeral 1 designates a main cam platewhich is rotated by a motor 10, 2 designates a sub cam plate which isrotatably supported on the same axis with the main cam plate 1 and aprecut portion 2 a is formed on a circumference thereof, 3 designates alocking lever (engaging means) which makes the main cam plate 1 and thesub cam plate 2 to be engaged with each other, 4 designates a spring(urging member) which urges the sub cam plate 2 in a direction that isopposite to a pressure when a protruding portion 6 a is inserted intothe precut portion 2 a, 5 designates a central axis to support the maincam plate 1 and the sub cam plate 2, 6 designates a locking plate whichmakes the protruding portion 6 a inserted into the precut portion 2 a ofthe sub cam plate 2 to release an engaging state of the locking lever 3when the sub cam plate 2 stops at a predetermined rotated position, 10designates the motor (driving means) to drive the main cam plate 1, 11designates a lever which rotates with a rotating movement of the maincam plate 1 or the sub cam plate 2 by the locking lever 3.

[0038] Hereinafter an operation of embodiment 1 will be explained.

[0039] On the main cam plate 1, the locking lever 3 is rotatably fixedby a pin 1 a to lock the rotating movement with the sub cam plate 2, anda pin 3 a of the locking lever 3 engages with a cam groove 2 b on thesub cam plate 2.

[0040] The locking lever 3 is provided with a hole 3 b which has a shapeof oblong hole, and the locking lever is urged to one side by the spring4, thereby the main cam plate 1 and the sub cam plate 2 are clamped bythe same central axis 5.

[0041] The locking plate 6 is provided with a protruding portion 6 a toengage with the precut portion 2 a of sub cam plate 2 and a pin 6 b tooperate the locking lever 3.

[0042]FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show a relation between the main cam plate 1 andthe locking lever 3, especially FIG. 4 shows a state that the sub camplate 2 is locked and FIG. 5 shows a state that the sub cam plate isreleased from the locked state.

[0043] Typically the locking lever 3 is urged to one side by the spring4 as depicted in FIG. 4, and it is located in a position where the pin 3a abuts onto one wall of a hole 1 c in the main cam plate 1 with the pin1 a as a rotating center. And the locking lever 3 engages with aprotruding portion 1 b on the main cam plate 1 and thereby a rotatingmovement of the locking lever 3 around the central axis 5 as a center isregulated.

[0044] When a locking is released by an action of the locking lever 6 (adetail will be described later), the locking lever 3 rotates around thecentral axis 5 as a center and at the same time it rotates around thepin 1 a as a center as depicted in FIG. 5.

[0045] At this point FIG. 6 shows a state that a straight edge of theprotruding portion 6 a of locking plate 6 and precut portion 2 a of thesub cam plate 2 are aligned along a line, and FIG. 7 shows a back sideof the state depicted in FIG. 6. And FIG. 8 shows a state that thelocking plate 6 is slid and engaged with the sub cam plate 2, and FIG. 9shows a back side of the state depicted in FIG. 8.

[0046] In the state depicted in FIG. 6, a rotating movement of the subcam plate 2 around the central axis 5 as a center is not caused evenwhen the locking plate 6 is slid, and only a rotating movement of thelocking lever 3 is performed around the pin 1 a as a center by pin 6 aof the locking plate 6.

[0047] Because the pin 3 a is moved to a concentric portion of the camgroove 2 b by this rotating movement, an engagement between the sub camplate 2 and the main cam plate 1 is released. At this point the sub camplate 2 is in a state to stop the rotating movement and only the maincam plate 1 becomes rotatable within the concentric portion of camgroove 2 b.

[0048] Next FIG. 10 shows a state that a slanted edge of the protrudingportion 6 a of locking plate 6 and the precut portion 2 a of sub camplate 2 are aligned along a line, and FIG. 11 shows a back side of thestate depicted in FIG. 10. Moreover FIG. 12 shows a state that thelocking plate 6 is slid and engaged with the sub cam plate 2, and FIG.13 shows a back side of the state depicted in FIG. 12.

[0049] In the state depicted in FIG. 10, when the locking plate 6 isslid, the sub cam plate 2 performs a rotating movement around thecentral axis 5 as a center till the precut portion 2 a and theprotruding portion 6 a are matched. At this point a driving pin 11 a ofthe lever 11 is located at a position in order not to disturb therotating movement of sub cam plate 2. While this rotating movement isperformed, the locking lever 3 performs its own rotating movement aroundcentral axis 5 as a center because the pin 3 a engages with the camgroove 2 b, and at the same time a rotating movement of the pin 6 a oflocking plate 6 is performed around the pin 1 a as a center. By thismovement while the sub cam plate 2 is in a state to stop the rotatingmovement, only the main cam plate 1 becomes rotatable within theconcentric portion of cam groove 2 b in the same manner as depicted inFIG. 8.

[0050] In this respect because the engagement of locking plate 6 ontothe sub cam plate 2 can be performed within an area from a stoppingposition depicted in FIG. 6 to a stopping position depicted in FIG. 10,a stopping position of the main cam plate 1, while the engagement oflocking plate 6 is performed, is set on an area of center between twopositions that the straight edge of protruding portion of the lockingplate and a precut portion of the sub cam plate are aligned along aline, and that a slanted edge of protruding portion of the locking plateand the precut portion of sub cam plate are aligned along a line.

[0051] Because the locking plate 6 is arranged as above described thelocking action can be attained even when the rotational stoppingposition of the main cam plate 1 is shifted as far as it is locatedwithin the area between two stopping position depicted in FIG. 6 andFIG. 10.

[0052] And in a case when a lock releasing action is performed torelease the engagement of locking plate 6, it is possible to be reset tothe locking state depicted in FIG. 4 because the locking lever 3 ispulled back by the spring 4 regardless of rotational stopping positionof the main cam plate 1.

[0053] By this arrangement it is made possible to absorb a stoppingerror caused by a control for stopping the motor 10, a stopping error ofthe main cam plate 1 caused by mechanical rattling or mechanicalvariation and the like.

[0054] At this point FIG. 15 shows a state that the main cam plate 1rotates within the concentric portion of cam groove 2 b after thelocking plate 6 engages with the sub cam plate 2. Because the rotatingmovement of sub cam plate 2 is prohibited, the pin 11 a can not be movedand thereby the lever 11 is not worked

[0055]FIG. 16 shows a state that the main cam plate 1 rotates to thesame position which is depicted in FIG. 15 when the locking plate 6 doesnot engage with the sub cam plate 2. Because the sub cam plate 2 isrotated with the main cam plate 1, the pin 11 a is moved to an outerperipheral side and thereby the lever 11 is worked.

[0056] By this constitution a selection from two different cam groovepattern can be performed within the same rotating area going along withallowance of stopping error of the main cam plate 1.

[0057] Industrial Applicability

[0058] As set forth above, the disk device in accordance with thepresent invention is suitable for a disk device that selectivelyrealizes the disk changing mode in which an arbitrary disk is selectedfrom a plurality of disks and exchanged, and a disk playing mode inwhich an arbitrary disk is inserted into a slot and reproduce.

What is claimed is:
 1. A disk device comprising: a main cam plate whichis rotated by a driving means; a sub cam plate which is rotatablysupported on the same axis as said main cam plate and a precut portionis made on a circumference thereof; an engaging means which makes saidmain cam plate and said sub cam plate engaged with each other; a leverwhich rotates with a rotating movement of said sub cam plate when saidmain cam plate and said sub cam plate are engaged together by saidengaging means; and a locking plate which makes a protruding portioninserted into the precut portion on said sub cam plate to releaseengaging state of the engaging means when the sub cam plate stops at apredetermined rotated position, characterized by that the precut portionof said sub cam plate and the protruding portion of said locking plateare made in a slanted shape and at the same time said sub cam plate isrotated by a pressure when said protruding portion is inserted into saidprecut portion.
 2. The disk device according to claim 1 characterized bythat a stopping position of the sub cam plate is set such that a tipportion of the protruding portion is located at a central area of cutportion of the precut portion.
 3. The disk device according to claim 1characterized by that precut portion of the sub cam plate is made bycutting in a triangle shape, and the tip portion of protruding portionof the locking plate is made in a shape of acute angle.
 4. The diskdevice according to claim 1 characterized by that a urging member whichurges the sub cam plate in a direction that is opposite to the pressurewhen the protruding portion is inserted into the precut portion.
 5. Thedisk device according to claim 4 characterized by that the urging memberis constituted by a spring, and one end of the spring is firmly fixedonto the main cam plate and another end of the spring is firmly fixedonto the locking plate.